Sampdoria stun Juventus in Turin

AFP, MILAN, Italy

Tue, Jan 08, 2013 - Page 19

Juventus’ hopes of virtually ending Inter’s Serie A title hopes suffered a setback after the champions fell to a shock 2-1 home defeat to UC Sampdoria on Sunday.

Inter had been stunned 3-0 by Udinese in the day’s early match, handing Juventus the chance to take their lead over the Nerazzurri to 12 points.

However, after Sebastian Giovinco had given the Bianconeri a 24th minute lead from the spot the hosts were stunned by a double from Emanuel Icardi.

Juventus, on 44 points, now have a five-point lead over SS Lazio.

ACF Fiorentina had hoped to close the gap on Lazio to one point, as well as pull further away from fourth-placed Inter, only to suffer a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Delfino Pescara 1936.

La Viola finished the day in fourth place after SSC Napoli moved up to third thanks to a superb 4-1 win over AS Roma at the San Paulo.

Napoli’s win came largely courtesy of an Edinson Cavani hat-trick.

Giovinco stepped up to convert Juve’s penalty after Claudio Marchisio was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

However, Sampdoria fought back and when Icardi broke free in the 52nd minute he beat Gianluigi Buffon with an angled strike from the edge of the box.

Buffon was then left clutching at air when, from a tight angle, the Argentine blasted the ball inside the near post and into the roof of the net on 68 minutes.

Sampdoria held on to record a famous win at Juventus Stadium and hand the champions only their third defeat of the season.

AC Milan secured a 2-1 win at home to Siena.

Bojan headed their opener just after the hour mark and Giampaolo Pazzini stepped up to convert a penalty, but Michele Paolucci made it a nervy finish for Massimiliano Allegri’s men when he reduced the arrears in the closing minutes.